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Heat wave :)

We have a heat wave here in Scotland 19deg. today and that makes for a lovely day out of the wind!

I am catching up with things slowly, I hope to have the new computer up and working tonight and while we wait for the overdue rubber to arrive in the House of Sugar, I am spending the time answering many emails and shufflin' paperwork.

It will soon be time to think about booking the Sugar Babes trip to CHA in Orlando this July, flight prices are still not looking attractive enough to book but I will not stress yet, plenty of time.

So with the sun shining and my workload slowly getting easier, time for a little candy.With an amazing 500+ followers on this blog, I had better make it tasty :)

My question to you is ...................................what's your top tip for a new cardmaker?

77 comments:

Hi, Yeah its fabby weather here in Scotland, it is so warm in my back garden.My tip to a new crafter would be not to buy loads of the kits you get from the shopping channels as I have tonnes of them and I only ever used 1 or 2 items from them. Think about what you like first! Hazelxox

I hope you have some time to relax and cool down! My tip for a new card maker is to make sure you have good organization plan for all your new stamps, embellishments, supplies. It makes a world of difference especially if you don't have much time to craft. That way, you don't spend half the time looking for everything you need and are exhausted and too tired to make a card! I speak from experience! :)

Good question :).My top tip is: stamps are like clothes, it's sometimes better to spend more on one stamp that you know you can use many times, instead of a cheaper stamp that you don't LOVE and will only use once.

Oh, and when the credit card bill comes in, isn't it Disraeli who said "Never explain"? LOL!

I'm still kinda new at card making myself, just started last december, but my top tip for a new cardmaker is: GET YOURSELF A SECOND JOB!! lol, with all the gorgeous papers, embellishments and STAMPS you're sure going to need it, cuz you'll want it ALL, lol. I know, I do!

don't impluse buy, When I first started crafting I bought QVC kits and peels off and have never used them, you can't go wrong buying some rubber stamps and some watercolour pencils to start off with as the stamps will last a life time and the pencils will last ages too hugs Jill xx

My top tip is to take your time and lay your card elements in position on your base card BEFORE attaching with glues so that you can make sure everything is how you want it to look. This way you can move things around etc if you change your mind about something. When you are happy with your design, then stick it all down.

I hope Scotland is still having a heatwave next week as I shall be on holiday up there then!

I wish we had such weather here in Germany!LOLMy top tip for a new cardmaker: Do whatever you want to, even if it may sound unusual like using "uncommon" things on your cards. As long as you are happy with the result everything is allowed - and it gives you so many more opportunities. Enjoy crafting!Hugs,Kathrin aka Kruemel

My top tip for a new card maker is to be happy with what you make yourself, it is your hobby after all. Don't compare yourself to others, use fellow bloggers creations for inspiration but follow your heart and trust your instincts and make what you like and makes you happy.

Wish we were having a heat wave here! gosh you're very generous giving us all these chances to win sugar fixes! My TOP tip for a new cardmaker is log onto www.funkykits.co.uk :)

My next tip is to book some classes at your local craft shop so you have a chance to try different techniques before you splurge on all the materials that you may never use then you can focus on a few things you really enjoy which is what inevitably happens. Also buy the best pens/pencils you can afford-there's a difference in quality. Hugs Rowena

Let's think about this.... Buy a good quality paper trimmer and scoring board. Invest in some good quality rubber stamps (Sugar Nellies are excellent and such great images). Buy the best you can afford when it comes to most things!

Yep, we've a mini heat wave here in Wales too - much to hot to dig the overdue veg plot! My tip for new card makers is make sure your stamp fits its intended space before you start stamping (I've learned this the hard way) and LESS IS MORE!

My top tip is to have some key tools. A good paper cutter and always use a sharp blade. Always always always use a bone folder. Find an adhesive you love...nothing like your card coming apart. Start out with sketches if you struggle with layouts. And most of all HAVE FUN.

Aha, I just gave this one to a budding card-maker friend: don't be afraid to use whatever inspires you and whatever is around you, don't be afraid to be bold and make everything you like. As long as you pour your soul into the making of the card it is not really important to use separately purchased ribbons, eyelets, brads and whatever, if you really want to, you can make a card that expresses your care/love for the receiver with little supplies and in a way that suits you both. Bye, Kitty

Gosh it's positively balmy in Scotland!!My tip to a new crafter is ... be yourself. There are so many fabulous blogs out there with stunnig creations that it is easy to be sucked into doing cards that way ... but you do need to be honest to yourself and make the cards that reflect you and your tastes.HugsCathy xx

Hmmm...top tip? I would think it would be "keep it simple!". When you're getting started, don't worry about the multi-layering, super embellished card. Go for a clean, simple style. As you get more and more comfortable with making cards, THEN start adding a layer here and there and maybe an embellishment or two.

It's beautiful in MA, USA! Sunny and 64 degrees! It will soon be hot and humid so I am enjoying this while it lasts.

My tip to a new cardmaker is to take some local classes and make some friends who know more than you do. They can part their wisdom on you and you can learn from their mistakes! It is also nice to have a group of friends who you can craft with.

My top tip for new cardmakers would be to just have fun....create what you like, with whatever you like...don't compare yourself to all the gorgeous creations on the web, use them for inspiration, but do what you love and like!

Wow!! I think we're having a heat wave as well in Malta.. it got too hot in only a few days!Top tip? Don't buy lots of stuff at once. Naughty people like Sugar nellies are always getting out lovely babes that you can't wait to ink up.. then you find that the first thing you bought on impulse are not the things you really want to use.

Lovely weather here too! I would love to win some scrummy candy.I would say to a new card maker,don,t get disheartened when you see other crafters Fab cards they had to start at the beginning too!.Trish (-:

I missed half of the good weather today catching up on some needed sleep in the afternoon, I forgot how much work having a puppy again would be and I've not managed to make any cards since I got him, right thats my moan over with. My tip to a new crafter would be to invest in some digital paper kits that way you will use the paper instead of pulling out pizza boxes with scrapbook papers in just to look at them because you can't bear to part with them because they look so pretty.

It's been sunny but chilly in the wind here too today, which unfortunately meant I had no excuses not to do loads of washing LOL! I've only been making cards since February this year myself and I think my top tip to a new crafter would be to not rush into buying all the fancy gadgets, lovely papers and lovely stamps make a card, more than anything else so those,the best colouring medium you can afford, scissors, knife and mat are all you need to get started until you know what you're style is! (wish someone had told me this in Feb LOL) Thank you for the chance to win some sugar candy! Jane x x

It's so funny that here in Australia 19 degrees is actually getting quite cool for us:) After the heat we have had for our summer I would love to have a 19 degree day. We are around 27 degrees atm. Which is very nice for us:) My tip for a new cardmaker would be to c.a.s.e and use card maps to build your confidence up.

Hi, everybody looks like a nice day again if the wind settles a bit more.My tip would be to join a local papercraft club if you can find one, where you can learn from the experiences of other card makers and try out things before you buy them. If you can't find a club look round at the many blogs on the internet to find out what works for others.Hope my cat's kittens are born today, family fed up of waiting.Susan

It'a been gorgeous weather down here in Fife too, it makes a lovely change. My top tip would be buy a few quality items that you will use again and again instead of loads of cheap stash that you probably won't use at all.

My tips to a newbie cardmaker are:* buy only the best quality card - you will be so much more pleased with the final results* get a good quality paper/card cutter* buy a scoring board and bone folder - again as good a quality as you can afford* get some storage organised, you WILL need it as your stash will grow more quickly than you imagine!* lastly, have fun, let the creativity flow and stop when the card is finished! I think many of us, when we first started out, kept going and 'spoiled' a good card by adding too many elements!

Contratulations on passing the 500 follower mark. Its hardly surprising with all that scrummy sugar around....

My tip to a new crafter would be to join a crafting club or sign up to some classes. This will help to stop expensive mistakes as you can try items out before you buy. When you do START to spend (and we all know it never stops!!), buy the best quality basics you can afford espcially the stamps.

It was lovely here yesterday as well but today the weather is turning, wind has got cooler and it's good old gray outside again.My top tip - buy really good basics, good trimmer/guillotine, knife, scissors and don't be afraid to use unconventional materials!Annika

My tip for a new crafter would be to buy good quality inks etc as they make a huge difference to the results you get when you try stamping. I started with a not so great ink and it put me off stamping for ages. Also to join a craft forum as you learn so much from chatting to other crafters!

Another beautiful day here in Scotland :0)My tip would be to not rush in and buy everything, wait till you develop your own style and invest in what you love :0)I LOVE the new Country Cousins range, they are so detailed and stamp beautifully x

Its sooo cold here today in Ireland I'm green with envy-maybe it'll blow over in our direction tomorrow...My top tip would be:invest in a gullotine/paper cutter-I wouldn't be without mine and use it for every project-I'd also recommend keeping it simple and developping your own style-it takes time.Dei xx

I wish we were having good weather here!! Enjoy!! My tip for a new card maker is stay organized. Buying stamps and supplies is very addictive. You see all the wonderful creations on all the blogs and you just have to have it!! So keep track some how...

My top tip for a new crafter would be to take stamps off of wooden blocks (you can do this easily by heating the blocks in the microwave for about 40 seconds) and use acrylic blocks instead or you run out of space and dont worry about what other people think go with what you like.

My tip for a new crafter would be just have fun and enjoy what you are doing after all it is a hobby. I used to stress about my cards not being as good as other people's but now I don't care, as long as I enjoyed making it, that's all that matters.Lora xx

Oh a heat wave, nothing like that happening here....enjoy it while it lastsMy top tip/tips for a new crafter...buy a 6x6 paper pad and some coordinating embellies...this really takes the hassle out of trying to match up papers/colours and then take a look at the fab challenge blogs for inspiration, the ones with a sketch will really get you going as the layout is all there....but don't stick anything down until the very end!!!But above all have fun and don't compare yourself to others, everyone had to start somewhere and once you've found your style, you will see an improvement with every cardThanks for the chance to win candyhugs Gill x

Scorchio!!:D My top tip would be to take care of your tools. Cleaning and storing your stamps properly is a must do this and they will last you a lifetime. Follow your heart and your creativity willl flow. Oh yeah and find a good DENTIST :D lol

Good quality stamps that you can see yourself using over and over. A excellent paper trimmer. Also like another person mentioned, try the different coloring mediums before investing-Tombows, Copics, prisma pencils etc.Try some classes at local stamp/scrap stores.ThanksTracy g

Our weather would be ok to if it wasn't for the wind.My tip for a new crafter would be don't spend lots of money on flowers from craft shops, get cheap but nice artificle flowers and pulled the heads off, a bit of glue and a button in the centre and voila a fab embellishment. Also when buying stamps choice ones that can be used for multi occassions that way you get value for money!! Although with all these gorgeous SN stamps around I know that's VERY hard to do!!!Joanne x

Oh I don't think you can narrow it down to just one tip, but I would say definately get into blogland and have a good look round then,try out some of the fab sketches that are around they make card making and layout so much esier.Go with you own instincts.xx Vee

Tip wise.... well I have seen a fair few on the list that I would have liked to be given when I was new to the addiction of buying!

The one thing that I would say is not to be swayed by every advertisement you see in a magazine, and to pick one magazine that you would get regularly but dont do as I did become addicted to having to buy them all. Instead join crafting sites, blog hop, if you want to see how something is done, You tube it... you might just have a tutorial on hand instead of paying for a card class. Though its a bit more insular, thats the down side..

My tip would be to take it easy in the beginning, dont buy too much stuff and don't overdo it! Find cardmakers, both online and IRL, and don't be afraid to ASK! There is so much to learn simply by watching what others have done, and then practise by copying in the beginning. Keep it simple!

My tip to new cardmakers, or crafters in general is... don't be afraid to try new things, even if it doesn't turn out how you though it might at least you tryed.. oh and make sure you have fun doing it xxx

oh and another thing... if you make a card and your not sure if you like it.. dont bin it.. leave it overnight and look at it again in the morning, you'll sometimes find things grow on you and you realise that actually you do like it!

My tip would be to invest in some basic tools at the beginning (eg paper trimmer), and ONLY buy what you LOVE...you need to see if you are going to continue with the hobby, and there are so many techniques to the hobby you don't know which will be your favourite! bx

Weather not so good in Cornwall. My advice to a newbie would be have some good cardstock, 1 or 2 basic inks, a set of colouring pencils and a decent cutter. Some nice Designer papers as well. Choose a couple of stamps you know you will use a lot of the time and go from there.Marion

if colour schemes challenge you - steal them from glossy ads in junk mail or magazines (non card-making / scrapbooking ones) the big companies pay designers loads to come up with them and make them work! enjoying a wetter(!?) - we need the rain - aussie autumn:)

Well I am new to card making - so any tips would be warmly received by me.

From my own very limited experience, I would suggest that you

1. Invest in a really good stamp - or two, or if you can afford it a 'plate/sheet' of stamps. Pick something that appeals to you, and which will be versatile.

2. A good quality black ink pad

3. Good quality card stock

4. Primary colours of inks or paints so that you can mix all shades of colours.

5. Take time to visit card makers blogs - particularly those associated with stamp websites, and magazines.

I have found out so much, and been so inspired by Design Team members working for such sites. From those I have blog hopped to others, and have found that there are lots of generous people willing to share their expertise on their blogs with demos and advice.

Thank you for so very much for the opportunity to win some wonderful stamps to add to my collection - very much appreciated.

I actually have to agree with the first poster! Additionally, cheap products are no fun and you won't use them after you learn about the good stuff. Buy less if you have to, but buy the best. Big, huge gobs of stuff all packaged together is rarely a bargain.

My tip for a new cardmaker is to get onto craft forums and ask questions, learn all the jargon and suppliers etc then pick a style you'd like to go for. Try not to buy too much at first until your sure you need it and will use it. Then get creative and enjoy.